Ullyot meets with Postl - December 9

On December 9, Ullyot met with Postl to discuss a range of issues, including the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program. She told Postl that the four anaesthetists were not happy with the program and still had concerns.

Postl spoke with his vice-president, Helen Wright, during this period. According to her testimony, Postl sought her advice on how he might close down the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program if he became convinced that such action was necessary. In recalling that conversation, Wright said Postl did not discuss specific cases with her, but he indicated that there were growing concerns with the program. She said Postl indicated that he was examining options if a worst-case scenario arose. She told him that he could go to the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) and ask that the program be stopped or that Odim's privileges be suspended or revoked. She also advised him to make sure that he had a firm understanding of the statistical results of the program. She said that if the MAC rejected this recommendation, he could then appeal to the President and the Board.

In December, Wright also heard from Boyle at least twice about nursing concerns with Odim's surgical competence. Wright said this was after her discussion with Postl. She indicated that, in previous discussions with Boyle, she had thought that the nurses' concerns related more to communications and interpersonal relations. Wright believed that Postl was taking steps to address these concerns. Within a short time, he had.